全国くらしの工芸展 11/25（金）〜11/27（日）　会場：サンドーム福井

京石工芸品

Kyoto Stone Carving

石・貴石

京都府

Kyoto

石と人間生活との関わり合いは、遠く石器時代から始まります。奈良時代後期、仏教の伝来によって石造文化が生まれました。
その後の石造美術の発展とともに、貴重な文化的石造工芸品が作り出されました。比叡山麓、白川の里からは良質の花崗岩（かこうがん）が切り出される等、材料にも恵まれた京石工芸品は、千年もの間文化の中心であった京都の土地柄に支えられて、他の地方には見られない石工芸の技術を築き上げ、現在にまで伝えています。

Although man's relationship with stone began long ago in the Stone Age, it was not until the end of the Nara period (710-794) when Buddhism was introduced into Japan that stone became more than just a utilitarian material. Gradually, as the art of stone work developed, pieces of stone craft of real cultural value appeared. Being blessed with fine raw materials such as the good quality granite available from the village of Shirakawa at the foot of Mount Hiei, Kyoto stone carving has been sustained by the very nature of the cultural of Kyoto, which has been at the center of Japanese culture for over a thousand years. Stone carving techniques, which cannot be found in any other part of the country, have been acquired here over the years and are still in use to this day.Almost everything that is made is for use in the traditional Japanese garden. A mason is responsible for carrying out all of the work on a piece, making each and everyone according to its function and form. Inevitably though, it is the stone lantern that has been an indispensable component of any traditional garden since the Momoyama period (1568-1600) in step with the fashion for tea. Besides lanterns and various kinds of tubs and pots, some pieces of sculpture are also made. The traditions of this ancient craft are being maintained by 84 firms employing 374 staff, 11 of whom are government recognized Master Craftsmen.

岡崎石工品

Okazaki Stone Carving

石・貴石

愛知県

Aichi

始まりは室町時代後期に遡ります。その後、安土桃山時代には、現在の愛知県にあった岡崎城主が、城下町の整備のため河内、和泉の石工を招き、石垣や堀を造らせました。
この石工たちが、その技術・技法に磨きをかけ春日型灯籠、六角雪見型等岡崎石工品の原型を作りました。19世紀の初めに29軒だった石屋は、19世紀の終わりには約50軒に増え、戦前、最盛期には350軒を数えましたが、最近は減少しつつあります。

The origins of this craft date back to the latter part of the Muromachi period (1391-1573). It was during the following Momoyama period (1573-1600), however, that the lord of Okazaki castle brought in skilled stone masons from Kawachi and Izumi to carry out some improvements to the surrounding town and had stone walls and moats built. As a way of perfecting their skills and techniques these masons carved Kasuga style lanterns and hexagonal flat-topped Yukimi or "snow viewing" lanterns and it was these that became the prototypes for Okazaki's own stone-carving craft. By the beginning of the 19th century there were 29 stone carving workshops and by the end of the same century there were 50. Before World War II at its peak the town boasted 350 workshops, a number which of late has declined somewhat.The principal item made is the stone lantern. They are an intricate composition of both line and surface embodying a simplicity of both linear and curvilinear beauty. To this is added highly skilled decorative carving providing a delicate elegance to this carved stone craft. Pagodas in miniature are also made as are receptacles for water or plants. There are now 22 firms employing 161 people sustaining this worthy stone craft.

真壁石燈籠

Makabe Stone Lanterns

石・貴石

茨城県

Ibaraki

茨城真壁地方は、質の良い花崗岩（かこうがん）が採れることから、古くから石を生活用具として加工、利用していました。
この地方の石材業の起こりは、室町時代末期に真壁町長岡地域一帯で始められた仏石作りであると伝えられています。真壁石燈籠として確認できるものとしては、真壁町の寺院境内にある、文政7年（1824年）に製造されたものが最も古いとされており、これを作った石工によって技術・技法が確立されました。

Good quality granite found in the Makabe area of Ibaraki Prefecture has been used to make a variety of useful articles since ancient times. The actual working of stone in the area began around the end of the Muromachi period (1333-1568) with the making of Buddhist stone articles around Nagaoka in Makabe-cho. The earliest confirmed Makabe stone lantern stands in the temple compound in Makabe-cho. It was made by Kubota Kichibei in 1824, and he was responsible for establishing the skills and techniques of the craft.Special features of these lightly colored lanterns are their superb craftsmanship, the light touch of the beautiful carving and their sense of weightiness. They provide traditional Japanese gardens with an added quality and elegance, their special features being accentuated further by the moss which tends to grow on the stone. Apart from garden items, lanterns and other items are also made for use at shrines and temples. There are now 42 firms employing 86 people, among whom there are 23 government recognized Master Craftsmen sustaining this essential craft.